The Tata Football Academy, the youth arm of Jamshedpur FC, has been awarded ‘The Hall of Fame – Youth Development Award’ for its contribution to Indian football by Global Soccer Conclave in its virtual event.
The event took place between September 5 and 7 and concluded with the award function.
TFA has produced 150 national team players since its inception in 1987 in Jamshedpur, which has been a pioneering effort by Tata Steel, where sport is a way of life.
Jamshedpur FC chief executive officer Mukul Choudhari was one of the esteemed panellists for the GSC live discussion where he discussed the Asian football business and various other topics. Jamshedpur FC also had player Ishan Pandita as a representative in the conclave as he won the ‘Most Popular Emerging Player’ award for his heroics in the Indian Super League in the previous season.
GSC is a didactic platform of knowledge networking between developed and developing football ecosystems to explore, identify and implement measures to improve football performance of businesses. The event had participation of international clubs, federations, and various other stakeholders.
Jamshedpur FC is taking serious steps to develop the football ecosystem in Jharkhand through a grassroots programme launched in 2018. The grassroots programme is helmed by Kundan Chandra.
Kundan, a retired Indian Navy officer with a background in aeronautical engineering, has a rich pedigree of coaching background. He is an AFC A Licensed Coach, FIFA Grassroot Instructor, AFC C License Instructor and an AIFF D License Instructor.
Besides football festivals for kids under the age groups of 5 to 12,workshops for the coaches, which is an open session for anyone above the age of 18, is also part of the grassroots programme,
The primary focus of the club is to educate and develop grassroot coaches so that the children can identify their true potential and graduate to the senior team (read JFC) which participates in the cash-rich Indian Super League.
Three graduates -- Mobashir Rahman, Sandeep Mandi and Pronay Halder -- of the elite TFA are presently in the JFC squad.
